MOVIES - Aug. 22, 1989

Raul Julia says that the spirit of slain Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero guided him through the most challenging role of his career in the new film “Romero.” “He is still around,” said Julia. ‘I talked to him practically before every scene we shot!’ The film will open in New York Friday and will be released in other major cities during September. “Romero” focuses on the last years of the archbishop’s life, before he was gunned down in 1980 while saying Mass in a hospital chapel. The film, shot in Mexico, was produced for Paulist Pictures by Father Ellwood (Bud) Kieser, a 30-year veteran of the film and TV industry. Julia, whose credits include “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Tequila Sunrise,” claims “Romero” changed his life. “This is probably the most difficult role that I have had so far,” the native Puerto Rican said. “Romero was definitely there with me while we were shooting the film--his essence, his soul, his being.” Julia recently became the Spanish-speaking spokesman for the Campaign for Human Development, a U.S. Catholic Church agency that sponsors anti-poverty projects.